"How convenient."

"I'm the one who'll be taking all the risk," he said shrilly. "What if I'm followed?"

"You will be. From the moment you pick up the money until I phone Jamie that the package in the locker is legitimate. After that he'll send a man to pick you up and see that you're safely on your way."

He hung up the phone.

"Books?" Jamie asked from his chair across the room.

"Simpson's running scared. He's offering to sell Gardeaux's books and the Medas information for a lump sum and safe passage."

"Why do you want the books?"

Nicholas shrugged. "I may not. It's a wild card. I have to access Pardeau's books in Paris to even make sense of Simpson's."

"Then why pay for them?"

"Sometimes a wild card comes in handy. God knows, we've never been this close to Gardeaux before." He added, "And I do want to know why Medas was hit."

"And I suppose you want me to get cracking about Simpson's papers?" He rose to his feet and strolled toward the telephone. "Captured once more in the toils of this pragmatic world. Too bad. I was just sitting here composing a deathless ode to our beauteous Nell's eyes."

Joel Lieber's house vaguely reminded Nell of one built by Frank Lloyd Wright that she had seen in a magazine. It was all clean modern lines and glass, subtly integrated into a setting of rocks, gardens, and a small waterfall issuing from a sparkling stream.

"It's beautiful," Nell said as she got out of the car.

"It should be." Nicholas led her toward the front entrance. "It's a house that beauty built."

"Tania says that Joel does a good deal of charity work."

"I'm not criticizing him. I'm a capitalist. Everyone has a right to reap the rewards of his labor."

"Hi, Nicholas. Good to see you."

Nell turned in astonishment to see Phil coming down the garden walk. He was dressed in jeans and a Bulls T-shirt and carrying a tiller. "What are you doing here?"

He smiled happily. "Nicholas thought I should stick around just to make sure you don't have a setback. In the meantime, Dr. Lieber's letting me work in his garden. I worked my way through college selling plants in a nursery. It's kind of nice being close to flowers again." He set off down the bank by the stream. "You need me for anything, you just call."

Nell turned to Nicholas. "You know I'm not going to have a setback."

"You can never tell." He changed the subject. "Joel said you wanted to start the paperwork to nullify your death. Why haven't you mentioned it to me?"

"Because I've changed my mind."

"Good. May I ask why?"

"I've decided it might be convenient. My new name will be Eve Billings. I'll need a driver's license and a passport in that name. Can you get them for me?"

"It will take a few days."

"And I'll need money to live. Will you open an account for me and make a cash deposit to see me through until I can access my own money? Of course, I'll write you an IOU."

"You're damn right you will," he said. "I may need to collect it from your estate if you persist in trying to get yourself killed."

"Right away?"

"I'll call and transfer funds to Joel's bank in the name of Eve Billings this morning. You'll receive the IDs by mail."

"Thank you. Kabler found me too easily. Do I have to worry about Maritz tracing me to the hospital?"

"No."

He spoke with absolute certainty. He must have plugged the hole, she thought. "What about records of my surgery?"

"Destroyed except for the ones Joel keeps here. I'll ask him to get rid of them too."

"Good." She rang the doorbell. "I know I said I wouldn't ask anything of you again. I promise this will be the last. Good-bye, Tanek."

"Don't sound so final. I'll be seeing you again. If you don't end up on a slab in-"

"You're here." Tania swung open the door, smiling broadly. "And Nicholas too. This is good. Come in and see what wonders I've wrought with Joel's house."

"Another time. I'm in a hurry." He smiled at Tania. "I have a plane to catch. See you."

Nell watched him as he walked toward the car. It was the first time he'd mentioned a trip. London?

"Come in." Tania was eagerly drawing her into the foyer. "I wish to show you-"

"Wonders," Nell finished for her. "The exterior is wonderful enough."

"But cold. Joel is a surgeon, and clean, efficient lines appeal to him. But inside you must have warmth. I tell him he cannot have a house that's as neat as one of his incisions." She drew her into the living room. "There must be excitement and color."

"You certainly have that." The chairs and sofas in the room were clean and contemporary but luxuriously upholstered in camel-colored fabric. Burgundy, beige, and orange occasional pillows were tossed everywhere. Stripes and florals and tapestries that should have clashed blended for a look that was exotic yet oddly homey. A cream Berber rug covered the oak floor that gave off a soft, warm glow. "It's really lovely."

"My grandmother used to say the hardest ground can be made soft if you use enough pillows." She made a face. "Well, she couldn't be profound all the time. But you have to admit she was right."

"Your Gypsy grandmother?"

She nodded. "You should have seen the house before I came. Danish modern and very cold." She gave a mock shudder. "Not good for Joel. He's a man who won't reach out to warmth unless it's thrust at him." She smiled cheerfully. "So I thrust it at him."

"It's very unusual. Have you thought of taking up decorating?"

She shook her head. "I'm going to the university in the fall, but I intend to study writing." She moved toward the door. "Come, I will show you your room. It's over the water, and I think you'll find the sound very soothing." She ran up a spiral staircase and threw a door open at the top of the stairs. "Is it good?"

More color-golds and rusts and scarlet, a study in autumn shades. A sleigh bed draped in deep hunter green. Ivy plants in brass containers, chrysanthemums standing tall and proud in a crystal vase. Richly bound leather books in a low bookcase. "Very good."

"I thought so," Tania said with satisfaction. "Blue is supposed to be soothing, but I knew you would respond to this. I had Phil pick the chrysanthemums this morning."

Nell was touched. "You've gone to a great deal of trouble. I won't be here long, you know."

"Long enough to enjoy my house," Tania said. "I will leave you alone to rest a little before lunch and try on the clothes in the closet."

"What clothes?"

"The clothes I had sent from Dayton's the day you decided to so rudely abandon me."

Nell stared at her in bewilderment. "You never mentioned buying any clothes."

"What was I to do?" She started for the door. "I don't believe in wasting time, and I had nothing to do until you returned."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why should I? You were very bad, and I wished to heap guilt upon you. Not let you think I managed very well on my own."

Nell found herself smiling as the door closed behind her. Tania was like a warm, unexpected breeze blowing aside any obstacle in its path.

She glanced at the closet. Later.

She moved toward the window. The waterfall was only fifty yards away, and the splash of water was as soothing as Tania claimed. Phil was kneeling by the stream, digging in a bed of hybrid yellow roses.

Richard had always given her yellow roses. He knew the little touches that pleased a woman and made her feel special. Sally Brenden had doted on him. But then, everyone had adored Richard.

Now he was gone. Why wasn't she mourning his passing?

Her grief at Jill's loss had devastated her to the extent that she could feel only a pale shadow of it when she thought of Richard's death. Had she not loved him? Had she convinced herself that gratitude and need were love? Oh, she didn't know. Perhaps she hadn't been angry that Richard's mother had not mentioned her on his tombstone because she hadn't felt she deserved it. She had tried to give Richard the love he deserved, but only Edna had truly loved him.

Phil turned his head and glanced at the house before bending over the rosebushes again. He was checking to make sure she hadn't left the house. On guard to keep her from venturing into territory Nicholas regarded as his own. He needn't have worried. As Nicholas had pointed out, she wasn't ready to go up against Gardeaux and Maritz. She must be very sure of the outcome when exacting payment.

But her plans didn't include having to stay here under benevolent guard either. She had some thinking to do. She had a kernel of an idea brewing, but she would have to have a firm plan to follow before she was ready to remedy the situation.

He was being followed. Panic soared through Nigel.

He glanced behind him. No one in sight. His step quickened on the pavement. No sound behind him. Maybe he was mistaken.

No, dammit, he'd felt someone there since he'd left the church that evening.

Christine's flat was just ahead. He ran up the steps and buzzed.

Was that a shadow in the doorway across the street?

"Yes?" Christine said into the intercom.

"Let me in. Now!"

The door clicked. Nigel hurried in, then slammed the door shut behind him.

"What's wrong, luv?" Christine was leaning over the banister. Her lips parted in that lovely, malicious smile. "Are you that eager?"

"Yes." He'd been eager before he'd suspected he'd been followed. Christine was not unique, but he'd found few women as talented in her field. He'd wanted one more evening with her before he left London. Now he wondered if he should have found a hole and crawled into it until it was time to go back to St. Anthony's the next morning.

"Then come up and see me. I have something special planned for you tonight. A new toy to punish my bad boy."

His cock hardened painfully. A new toy. The dildo she'd used on him last time had nearly split him in half and made him come like a geyser. He glanced at the front door behind him. He had not actually seen anyone and, if there was anyone there, it might be more dangerous to leave than to stay. Christine's place was as safe as anywhere else. There were only two flats in the building, and Christine had mentioned the other tenant was out of the country.

"Come!" Christine ordered. "Stop dawdling, or I'll punish you for it."

Excitement gripped him. It was beginning. Soon he would be on his knees before her, lost in the dark heat. He eagerly started up the steps.

She was standing at the top of the stairs, naked except for four-inch stiletto heels, tall, voluptuous, commanding. She stepped back and strode toward the door of her apartment. "How many times must I tell you that you must obey at once?"

"I'm sorry. I deserve to be punished." He followed her into the apartment. "May I see it?"

"Kneel."

He instantly dropped to his knees before her.

"Very good." She spread her legs wider and stood, looking down at him. "Now what do you want to see?"

"The toy. The new toy."

Her hands tangled in his hair and jerked his head back. Pain shot through him. "Ask me nicely."

"Please, mistress, may I see the toy?" he whispered.

"Is that all you want? Just to see it? You don't want me to use it on you?"

"Will it hurt me?"

"Very much."

He was trembling, ready. He was always like this the first time, but he mustn't come until she granted him permission. "If it pleases you, I want you to use it on me."

"You're sure?"

He nodded.

"Then that's the way it will be." She smiled cruelly. "But I don't wish to dirty my hands with you. I'll let my friend show you the toy."

"Your friend? No one else-"

Pain tore through his back! Christ, what was it? A brand? The agony was too much, he couldn't bear it.

He clutched wildly at Christine's hips.

She stepped back and he toppled to the carpet.

"Too much ..." he whimpered. "Take-it away."

Christine was looking at someone beyond him. "You promised me it would be quick and clean, Maritz. He's bleeding all over my carpet."